17 June, 2014

Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama; A Journey Through The Heart of Central America

The joy of visiting Central America is in getting to experience so much diversity and uniformity all at once; the Spanish language that unites the region also changes subtly from Guatemala to Panama, the Caribbean cuisine prevalent across countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, has its own distinct flavors in each country, while travel experiences also change dramatically from country to country.

Nicaragua, the ‘Land of Lakes and Volcanoes’, is exactly as its nickname suggests; teeming with majestic volcanoes and quiet lakes. One of the most famous volcanoes is Cerro Negro, a looming black mass just 10km from Malpaisillo. Here, atop the crater of one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes, travelers tear down the ashy slopes on top of a rickety wooden board. Just make sure to hold on tight, as the boards can reach up to 90km per hour!

Costa Rica offers its own host of intrigue, not least for the spectacular biodiversity within the country. The country is said to be home to over 5% of the world’s biodiversity; some of which can be enjoyed at Corcovado National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Visitors to Costa Rica can explore the many natural parks, reserves and wildlife refuges that make up more than 25% of the land. One ‘must-do’ includes climbing to the top of Mount Chirripó to see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea at once.

Panama marks the end of Central America, and
has a lot more to offer than just its famous canal. Bocas del Toro is an archipelago in the north of the country that never fails to tempt travelers to extend their holidays and consider early retirement. The islands are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing, making Panama the perfect destination in Central America for beach-loving adventurers.

Before You Go...

Pick up our Central America South GPS Mapset. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!